May 27, 2015
Contract Awarded to Local Engineering Firm for Next Phase of Project
ALBANY, N.Y. (May 27, 2015) The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) announced at its monthly Board Meeting today a contract has been awarded to Creighton Manning Engineering, LLP to help continue advancement of its 40 miles of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in the Capital Region.
The Board approved a two-year contract with three one-year renewals for BRT project development along the Washington-Western Corridor (Purple Line) and the River Corridor (Blue Line) for a total amount not to exceed $7,025,195. The work includes assistance on detailed design work of service plans, transit centers in Troy and Guilderland as well as the region’s first dedicated busway through the UAlbany and Harriman Campuses.
CDTA’s 2013 Transportation Development Plan (TDP) officially outlined a program to implement 40 miles of BRT in the Capital Region. The plan focuses on the three busiest transit corridors in the region which generate over 9.5 million riders annually, representing 60% of CDTA’s entire system. The 40-mile plan will provide enhanced transit service to key areas that have demonstrated high-transit demand. CDTA introduced Upstate New York’s first BRT line, BusPlus, along Route 5 back in 2011. Since its inception ridership has grown 30% along that corridor.
BRT project development is progressing as CDTA advances the work through the Federal Small Starts process. CDTA sought proposals from qualified consultant firms or teams to provide professional assistance for this phase of the Washington-Western BRT line and the River Corridor BRT line, which will prepare both lines for construction when funded.
In other News:
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CDTA reported the lowest number of employee injuries and the lowest number of severe cases in the company’s history. Since the implementation of a Workplace Safety Comprehensive Program in January of 2008, CDTA has reduced reported injuries per year by nearly 50%, with severe cases running down into the low teens.
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System ridership totaled 1.507 million boardings in April, which is 2% higher compared to April 2014 (1.485 million). STAR boardings were also up 2%, totaling 27,787 this April as compared to 27,208 last April. Notable increases were seen on Northway Xpress (NX) buses, which were up 12% and through CDTA’s Universal Access agreements, which showed a 9% increase in ridership.
The CDTA Board of Directors meets on the last Wednesday of every month at the CDTA Headquarters. Board meetings are open to the public and streamed live at www.cdta.org.